The Hualapai Nation has a right to the use of water
from the Colorado River to the extent of its need to serve its people and
to develop its homeland. The basis of this right is the Executive Order of
President Chester A. Arthur dated January 4, 1883, which established the
Hualapai Reservation. The Order fixed the northern boundary of the
reservation as the middle of the Colorado River along a distance of 108
miles. Under principles established in a series of decisions by the United
States Supreme Court, the Order has the effect of reserving for the Hualapais the right to use the river to meet its current and future
requirements.

Notwithstanding this water right, the Hualapai Nation does
not have a recognized entitlement to withdraw water from the Colorado River. The
United States, in its operation of federal reclamation projects, has asserted
control over withdrawals and deliveries of water. It exercises that control by
requiring that all such withdrawals and deliveries must be based upon formal
contracts with the Secretary of the Interior. Most of Arizona's share of the
Colorado River water has been allocated in this manner. In many cases the
Secretary has entered into allocation contracts with non-Indian entities that
have no claim of water right.

The Hualapai
Nation is vigorously asserting its entitlement to an allocation contract for
Colorado River water. It is determined to continue these efforts so that it can
meet the water needs of future generations of Hualapai people.